Christ heals us

Christ is our Healer: We are enjoying teaching the class "Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel" in English on Tuesday mornings. Last week I asked, "Of all the many acts that Jesus performed during his mortal life, is there one that stands out in your mind?" (Excluding the Atonement) A recently returned missionary, Lorens Reyes answered, "...healing the sick, because it is symbolic of Christ healing us." He went on to explain how we can trust our Savior because we know he will be there for us and heal our wounds and our souls. He said other things but I was so touched by the spirit about healing that I started thinking about "healings" in my life.
 I thought of how he STILL continues to heal us.  A short time ago we talked to our granddaughter Macey on her birthday.  She told us that our (grandson) Benjamin, her younger brother, has no more LCH--a cancer-type disease. What a miracle! He was diagnosed more than four years ago and went through chemo therapy several times.   It would subside, then come back in a different area. The doctors couldn't promise anything or give them a lot of hope because there is so little known about the disease. He has a blog called

"Benjamin's Bumps" that gives details, but it was a long and frightening four years or so. Hopefully the LCH is gone forever, but time will tell. It is a miracle for Ben and evidence that God is watching over us and hears our prayers.
Lorens's comments and testimony were a good reminder for me that I need to see the love and healings Jesus blesses us with, through the atonement, everyday and be grateful for His miracles then and now.
I have such a strong testimony of "Healing of the soul". I've known people that have been through some rough times be healed when they reach out to the Lord. One young man that I know actually felt the Lord's arms around him, as he reached out to the Lord and asked for forgiveness and validation. Heavenly Father knew what he needed, and the young man was healed and has been a great servant of Lord ever since. The Lord has healed my spirit many times as I've struggled with the problems of life. I have no doubt that He loves me and has a plan for me, as He does for each of you, my family and friends. We didn't get dumped here on earth with no plan for our return to the Celestial Kingdom to be with our Father in Heaven. He knows and loves each of us. He wants everyone of us to return to Him. In the New Testament, John wrote. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." Everlasting life with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. We can be made clean and worthy to be with Him, if we just go to Him and ask for Him to "heal" us. I love my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I love all of you, my sweet family and friends.  
Peggy

New FUNVAL Class

We started our second FUNVAL (Fundamental Values) class since we have been in the Dominican Republic. We teach 20 returned missionaries and men "The Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon"--an Institute class that is a requirement for their job-training. We love the young men at FUNVAL! They are motivated and have great testimonies.  The name cards we have them fill out the first day are no longer needed as we now know them by name.  When we enter their classroom--every Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon--not only do they get excited to see us but the same is true for us.  They make us happy!  It fills us with the great joy to join them in the devotional, singing the hymns with gusto and to them pray with great sincerity. We feel the spirit the minute we walk into their classroom.

This semester, the Funval director asked us to teach an additional hour of English pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and U.S. Culture beyond the Institute class. Since these men will be providing telephone customer service to U.S. customers, we teach U.S. regional geography, customs, and culture,  We are working on reading for pronunciation and comprehension practice on pronouncing difficult English words.  Several of their difficult words are:  world, jewelry, aren't, judged, laughing, "any word with "th" in it like through, words with "v" because they pronounce a "v" as a "b"when to use past tense "ed,"  The first word we gave them to learn to pronounce in English is "Funval" and not "Funball." They laughed and agreed with us.

We are having fun teaching and watching these young men improve their ability to speak English.  Speaking proper English will help them get a good job, provide financial stability and ultimately help them to support a family and provide strength to the Church here in the DR.  Our ecclesiastical leader Elder Hugo Martinez of the 2nd Quorum of Seventy told us in a recent interview, "Elder and Sister Park, you are training the leaders of the DR for the next 50 years."    We know and feel the purpose of our calling here.  It is rewarding,gratifying and a memorable experience we are having.  We know we are blessed! Randy